Research

Fusion in Europe

Fusion research is undertaken in many countries around the world, with a strong co-ordinated European-wide research programme in which the EU Member States, Switzerland and other countries which have bi-lateral agreements with EURATOM participate. This is organised through ‘Contracts of Association' between EURATOM and the Member States or organisations within a State.

JET Control Room - image copyright Monty RakusenThe programme is co-ordinated through the European Fusion Development Agreement (EFDA), whose role is to focus on research co-ordination, together with the Fusion for Energy agency that provides Europe's contribution to ITER.

Fusion research at Culham is funded jointly by EURATOM and by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). Culham Centre for Fusion Energy also has a contract from EURATOM to operate JET, the world's current leading fusion research facility, sited at Culham. Task Forces of scientists from all EURATOM Fusion Associations, including the UK, carry out experiments on the JET facility. This work is organised in a collective programme managed under the European Fusion Development Agreement, directed by the EFDA Associate Leader for JET.

A review of European fusion facilities was carried out in 2008 by an independent panel comprising non-European fusion experts and non-fusion experts from Europe. Each European fusion facility was assessed in terms of its core and strategic importance. Future EURATOM funding will be linked to facilities supported by the review. Both JET and the UK's tokamak, MAST, were considered integral to the needs of the European fusion programme and recommended for continued operation.